Publication Ethics

Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology is committed to the highest standards of publication ethics. We adhere to the guidelines and principles of transparency and best practices as set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which guide our editorial and peer review processes. Our goal is to ensure the integrity of the research we publish and foster an environment of ethical behavior for authors, editors, reviewers, and all participants in the publishing process.

General Ethical Standards

Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology strives to maintain transparency, integrity, and accountability in its publication processes, and is guided by the following COPE principles:

• Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing
• Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers
• Guidelines for Ethical Editing
• Editorial Board Participation

These guidelines cover ethical practices in authorship, peer review, editorial decision-making, and post-publication actions, and all individuals involved in the publication process are expected to comply with these standards.

Publication Decisions

• Editorial Responsibility
  The editor-in-chief is responsible for making the final decision regarding which articles are published in Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology. The editorial board may consult with other experts, including reviewers, before reaching a final decision on publication. The editor’s decision will be based on the quality, originality, and relevance of the submitted manuscript to the journal’s scope, following rigorous peer-review processes.

• Fair Play
  Manuscripts will be evaluated based solely on their intellectual content, without regard to the author's race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

Confidentiality

• All manuscripts submitted to Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology will be handled confidentially. Information about the submitted manuscript will not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, potential reviewers, and editorial board members as appropriate. Manuscript details will not be shared with anyone outside the editorial process.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

• Authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their judgment. Conflicts of interest include financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their decisions or opinions.
• All parties involved in the publishing process, including the editorial staff, must act with transparency. Any conflicts will be addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Data Sharing & Reproducibility

• Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology encourages authors to share raw data whenever possible. This enhances reproducibility and transparency. Authors are also encouraged to follow best practices in data reporting and share data in publicly accessible repositories. The journal supports the COPE guidelines on data sharing and reproducibility, ensuring that research findings can be verified and built upon by others.

Ethical Oversight

• The journal follows ethical standards for research involving human participants and animals. We ensure that all studies meet the required ethical guidelines for approval by institutional review boards and relevant ethics committees.
• Manuscripts involving vulnerable populations, clinical trials, or animal testing should clearly state ethical considerations, consent procedures, and institutional approvals obtained.

Intellectual Property

• Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology has a clear policy regarding intellectual property, emphasizing respect for copyright laws and academic integrity. The journal requires authors to adhere to proper citation practices and prohibits the submission of plagiarized content.
• Authors should ensure that the work is original and properly cite sources of data, methods, or ideas. Manuscripts with significant similarity to previously published works (greater than 20%) will be rejected.

Post-Production Discussion & Corrections

• The journal welcomes post-publication comments, criticisms, and discussions. If significant errors or issues are identified after publication, Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology will work with authors to correct or retract the article where appropriate.

Duties of Reviewers

• Contribution to Editorial Decisions
  Peer review is essential to the decision-making process and helps authors improve their work. Reviewers are expected to assess manuscripts objectively and constructively, offering clear, evidence-based recommendations.

• Confidentiality
  Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential and not disclose any details to third parties without the editor’s consent. Manuscripts should not be used for personal gain.

• Standards of Objectivity
  Reviews should be based on the content of the manuscript, not on personal opinions of the authors. Reviewers should avoid making personal critiques and should focus on the manuscript's academic merit.

• Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
  Reviewers should disclose any conflicts of interest and refrain from reviewing manuscripts where they have a competing interest.

Author’s Liabilities

• Corresponding Author’s Responsibilities
  The corresponding author is the primary point of contact with the journal and is responsible for coordinating communication with co-authors. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the manuscript and are aware of the submission. They are also responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information in the manuscript and the final proof before publication.

• Confidential Process
  All communications with Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology, including reviewer reports and editorial decisions, must be kept confidential. Authors are not allowed to disclose manuscript details or reviewer comments without prior consent from the editor.

• Reporting Standards
  Authors are expected to provide a truthful and accurate representation of their research findings. Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of data is strictly prohibited. Authors should ensure that their research is reproducible and properly referenced.

• Data Access and Retention
  Authors must provide raw data associated with the study for editorial review. If possible, data should be made publicly accessible to facilitate transparency and further research.

• Originality and Plagiarism
  Manuscripts submitted to Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology must be original and not published elsewhere. Proper citation should be provided for any previously published work or ideas incorporated into the manuscript. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

• Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
  Manuscripts should not be simultaneously submitted to multiple journals. If the work has been submitted or published elsewhere, this should be disclosed during the submission process.

• Acknowledgment of Sources
  Authors should provide proper acknowledgment of all sources that contributed to the work and those whose work influenced the study.

• Authorship of the Paper
  Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the study’s conception, design, data collection, or analysis. All co-authors should have agreed to the manuscript’s submission and final version.

• Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
  If the research involves hazardous materials, equipment, or procedures, authors must clearly disclose any risks associated with their work.

• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
  Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research process or its outcomes.

• Fundamental Errors in Published Works
  If an author discovers significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor and take steps to correct or retract the paper.

• Referee Suggestions
  Authors may suggest reviewers, but the editorial office is not bound by these suggestions. Requests for exclusions of specific reviewers will be considered but are not guaranteed.

Complaints & Appeals

Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology has a clear and accessible process for handling complaints and appeals. The Complaint Redressal & Appellate Committee will address issues raised by authors, reviewers, or editors before, during, or after the publication process. Complaints will be resolved following COPE guidelines, and all decisions will be made with fairness and transparency.

Composition of the Complaint Redressal & Appellate Committee

• Editor-In-Chief
• Managing Editor
• Two relevant members of the Editorial Advisory Board from Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology
• One relevant member of the Editorial Advisory Board from another journal